A role model

On the front page of a local newspaper is a big article called "Each Day is a Gift" -- and above the pictures, in italics are the words "For a former pastor turning 100, faith has been an unfailing guide"...on the back page of the section, the article continues, and in big font are the words " 'I know the Bible has the answer' "...wow. Granted, it's a LOCAL paper -- but still...isn't that neat? There's a huge picture of the man and his family members on the front page. Anyway...here are some quotes from this article:

"He chuckles easily as he delights in the word of God. 'Stop and relish it, like a good piece of candy,' he tells his Bible study class. They nod and smile along with him. 'I believe the word of God is wonderful to use every day of your life.'"

"Larson has diligently memorized verse after verse through the years. 'I have been preaching the gospel for over 74 years. I have dedicated my life to this book,' he said, patting an open page in his King James version of the Bible."

" 'Now, almost inevitably, people talk to me with a question or concern, and I have trouble keeping from preaching,' he said. 'I know the Bible has the answer. 'I'm just full of the Bible.'"

" 'He's got a certain peace about him,' Munroe said. 'He's got such a reservoir of God's word that he's built for himself. He's a walking, talking Bible.'"

Wow. What a compliment!!

Dear God, please use this article to get people thinking about you. Please use this article to draw people close to you. Thank you ~~

Inspirational Impact

I went on a retreat last month, and got a ticket on the way home - for speeding and following too closely. I don't think I was incredibly close, but it's possible I could have been less than 3 seconds behind the car in front of me. Anyway, at first when the officer talked to me, I was fine, then, he went back to his car...and came back, and showed me a ticket - for one handsome sum. It was a sad shock at first, yes...but later in my car we had some fun with it -- like to pretend it was to count for all the times I sped in the past, a donation to the city, or whatever... it was really nice that they were able to help lighten the situation.

And then...in the mail I got a card along with an incredibly generous check -- to help cover the bulk of the cost of the ticket! Wow. That was quite amazing. And then later on I was given yet another check to cover the remainder of the cost of the ticket. I didn't end up having to pay any of it! *WOW* Even though I was the one to blame, other people (who went on the retreat) pitched in to help me. Their generosity is certainly an undeserved inspiration!! I will not forget this ...It's quite amazing.

The groups' Bible studies were studying Galatians this quarter. I don't think my Bible study has gotten to the following verse yet, but I think it is one that this generous gesture of kindness illustrates:

Gal. 6:10b - "...let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Also, it reminds me of how as believers don't get what we deserve (salvation), and with this situation too, I got something I didn't deserve....

Jots from Job - Song & Prayer

Oh! It’s interesting – Job 1:21 – “… The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” It’s like the song “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” -- “You give and take away”….ah.

Job 42:8 – the LORD: “…And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly…”

--Interesting that prayer was part of the plan…

from "Treasury of Sacred Song" (a couple of snippets)

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/palgrave/sacredsong.h027.html

"...But, O my Saviour, Who my refuge art,
Let Thy dear mercies stand 'twixt them and me,
And be the wall to separate my heart
So that I may at length repose me free;
That peace, and joy, and rest may be within,
And I remain divided from my sin."

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/palgrave/sacredsong.h067.html
selection from "THE ELIXIR":

"Teach me, my GOD and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything,
To do it as for Thee.

All may of Thee partake:
Nothing can be so mean
Which with his tincture, For Thy sake,
Will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws,..."

Abraham & Faith tests/trials

Abraham had been told that his offspring would be like the number of stars, and that his offspring would come through his son. And Abram had believed the LORD (Gen. 15). So there is this precious promise. And in chapter 17, God says of Isaac, “I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him” (vs. 19b). So there is this promise. Then in chapter 22, God tests Abraham (vs.1). At least 3 days pass in-between the initial call and the almost sacrifice. What was going through Abraham’s mind during this waiting and preparation time? Was his heart heavy? What a faith this man had! When Isaac asked where the lamb was for the offering, Abraham replied that God would provide a lamb. Did Abraham believe God would actually first provide a lamb, or was he fully expecting to actually sacrifice his son and that he would be revived? Perhaps he didn’t completely know. In Hebrews 11, it says that Abraham “considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (vs. 19). Whatever the case, he did not keep his son back (Gen. 22:12). Did Abraham know he was being tested? Do we always know when we are being tested? Perhaps not. However, James 1:2-4 tells us that we should “count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” There’s something powerful and precious about the testing of our faith. See 1 Peter 1:6-8: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold…-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Should we treat every trial as if it were a test on our faith?

Genesis 3

Genesis

3:4 “But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die.’”
3:6 “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

So the serpent made her doubt God’s truthful words. Disobedience was appealing and enticed her to sin. It looked deliciously delightful, and she desired to be wise – perhaps something seemingly innocuous. She then sinned, and encouraged her husband to sin as well.

From this passage we can see that sin can occur when we doubt or disregard God’s words and instead fall prey to the luring trap of sinful desire. Why is it tempting to trust anyone or anything that runs in opposition to what God says? Because it looks appealing and ‘not that bad,’ possibly even with a seemingly spiritual outcome? In verse 5 the serpent tells the woman, “…you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Why did they go against God? Why do we go against God? Perhaps because of our selfish depravity – we’re all sinners… Yet, why did Adam and Eve do it in the first place?

Free Hugs Campaign

http://freehugscampaign.org/

"We often find ourselves thinking, 'When life settles down a bit, I'll...' But we should have learned by now that life never settles down. Whatever we want to accomplish, we must do it with life unsettled." (Donald Whitney)

Invisible Children

I think it's common for hearts to not be pierced with matters relating to others' pain in another part of the country or world if a face/heart/story isn't attached to the suffering...one way to increase awareness of suffering is for people to become acquainted with the faces and human stories behind the suffering. (That being said, I think it can also be easy to ignore, or lack attentiveness to the inner pain of a friend or loved one. )

If you'd like to catch a glimpse of the situation of the child soliders of Uganda, if you know me and aren't too geographically far, feel free to borrow an Invisible Children or World Vision DVD that touches upon that situation...or feel free to watch the Invisible Children video on the following website:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3166797753930210643

You can check out the Invisible Children movement at:

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/

Like a child...

Picture this - a young child playing the piano alongside a family member who can play alright. Even though the child is just playing for fun and isn't any good, because that child is playing alongside the more skilled family member, to the child's ears, perhaps s/he's a star - or at least, the music that meets the ears is something relatively sweet (if the child is playing on the high end of the piano), because the more beautiful melody drowns out the chaotic one.

So...when I play the guitar on Friday nights (for a Christian group on campus), for some/many songs, I'm kind-of like a kid who plays alongside a better person. Hopefully my noise isn't too chaotic, and I certainly am no star, but, anyway it's nice that there's someone good who can carry the weight. Hopefully I'll improve over time. Ideally it would be nice if I added some dynamic to the music, but regardless, perhaps it's at least good for me - it pushes me to play in front of people, and hopefully it'll make me a better player.

Could there be any life application drawn from these illustrations?

Should we be like children and try our best, even if we create ruckus at times, and push ahead with our focus on God (like the focus on the music coming from the better player), striving to be more like God, as perhaps the child aspires to be like the family member musician?

Is that too much of a stretch? ^_^